Egg carton



y 1967 F. E. HELMICK 3,329,330

EGG CARTON Filed Sept. 9, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Fred E.Helm/ck Attorneys F. E. HELMICK July 4, 1967 EGG CARTON 4 Sheets-SheetFiled Sept.

INVENTOR. Fred E. Helmick BY Attorneys F. E. HELMICK July 4, 1967 EGGCARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 9, 1965 INVENTOR. Fred E. HelmickAttorneys United States Patent 3,329,330 EGG CARTON Fred E. Helmick, 381Felton Drive, Menlo Park, Calif. 94025 Filed Sept. 9, 1965, Ser. No.486,118 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-29) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An egg cartonhaving depending cross members on the cover, the free edges of whichrestrain movement of the contents and also furnish a window in thecover. On the bottom portion, a segmented, gabled central spine projectsfrom a leakproof bottom, cert-ain segments of the spine have shoulderswhich engage between spaced abutments on the upper edge of adjacentcross partitions, and straight edges on such segments beneath theshoulders, engage and stiffen the cross partitions against lateralbuckling.

This invention relates to a collapsible cellular carton, andparticularly concerns an improved carton for packaging eggs andcomparably shaped fragile articles.

An object of the invention is to provide an egg carton having improvedleak resisting characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an egg carton which isstackable in a manner wherein the load of a stack of cartons is appliedprincipally to the side walls of the cartons thereby to minimizesubstantially the load applied to the contents of the several cartons inthe stack and tending to reduce the likelihood of breakage of thecontents.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a one-piece cellularcarton erectable from a blank of fiberboard material which makes maximumutilization of the fiberboard material.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carton of the typedescribed which is economical to make and is susceptible of quickerection by automatic machinery.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an egg carton inwhich the cover is supported on its opposite sides and along itslongitudinal center line and is so con structed that a load applied tothe cover along such longitudinal center line is' distributed to theside walls of the carton.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an egg carton in whichthe cover is so constructed to provide in the closed position a View ofthe cartons contents.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an egg carton inwhich the cover is provided with a plurality of openings for viewing thecontents, the carton being constructed so that in the closed conditioneggs in adjacent cells are resiliently cushioned so as to providemaximum protection against breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generally improved eggcarton in which the fluid from an egg, if broken, is largely, if notentirely, confined to the carton and therefore does not flow downwardlyso as to damage the subjacent cartons.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and arrangements of elements as willfully appear as this description proceeds, the novel features thereofbeing pointed out in the appended claims. The invention will be bestunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the drawings wherein like reference numerals designatelike parts throughout in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cellular carton made in accordancewith and embodying the principles of the present invention, a portion ofthe cartons cover being shown in the closed position, another portion ofthe cover being shown in an open condition;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken in the directionof the arrows along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken in the directionof the arrows along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGURES 4 and 4a are plan views of the partially folded blank from whichthe carton of FIGURE 1 is constructed;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are each perspective views illustrating further stepsemployed to erect the carton of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cellular eggcarton made in accordance with and embodying the principles of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1-3, there isshown there a carton in the erected condition designated generally bythe numeral 10 which is made in accordance with and embodies theprinciples of the present invention. The general configuration of thecarton 10 is that of a 2 x 6 egg carton adapted to accommodate a dozeneggs in two aligned rows of six each. The carton 10 is formed from ablank comprising a single sheet of fiberboard material and includes acover 11 hingeably connected to a tall rear wall 12, a somewhat shorterfront wall 13 and a substantially imperforate bottom 14 established bythe planar front bottom panel 14a and the planar rear bottom bottompanel 14b.

The carton 10 is divided longitudinally by a gabled, central spine 16which includes the individual spine segments 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e and16]. An upstanding medial partition 17 extends between the confrontingedges of the spine segments 16:: and 16d and separates the carton 10into symmetrical halves about its lateral axis. Each end of the carton10 is closed by an end wall 18. Between each end wall 18 and the medialpartition 17 there are arranged two spaced apart cross-partitions 19,each extending between the confronting edges of adjacent spine segments.Each cross-partition 19 is united by a connector 21 to the front panel13 and by a similar connector 21 to a securing strip 22 attached as bygluing to the rear v wall 12.

' like object. By reason of the close fit between the end walls 18 andthe irnperforate bottom 14 the carton 10' possesses superior leakresisting characteristics. By reason of the arched bottom 14 the cartons10 may be stacked one upon another so that the vertical forces in thestack are distributed principally through the side walls 12 and 13 ofthe carton 10 and not through the cover. This reduces the likelihood ofcrushing oversize eggs in subjacent cartons.

Considering now in detail the cellular or compartmented portion of thecontainer 10 and leaving for a later portion of this specification adetailed description of the cover 11 it will be seen from FIGURES 1-3that thetall rear wall 12 and the shorter front wall 13 each mergerespectively with the bottom panels 14a and 14b at the carton supportingcorners 12a and 13a respectively. When erected and filled the weight ofthe carton 10 and those which may be stacked above it is supportedsolely along the lines defined by the corner portions 12a and 13a. It

is to be understood, of course, that the blank from which i the carton10 is formed is suitably scored to facilitate 3 folding along the cornerportions 12a and 13a, the lines of scoring being identified in FIGURES4a and 4 as 12a and 13a respectively.

The interlocked arrangement, to be described fully below, of thecross-partitions 19'and walls 18 and medial partition 17 with respect tothe segmented spine 16 is such that loads placed upon the cover of thecarton and then distributed to the spine are transferred through thetruss-like relation of the aforementioned members to the side walls 12and 13. Even though-the members 17-19 are formed from relatively thinfiberboard materials the truss-like arrangement best utilizes andcombines the strength of these members in a manner permitting stackingof the cartons 10 to a substantial height but minimizes the danger ofthe breakage to the contents. The segmented spine 16 is of double foldconstruction formed integrally with the bottom panels 14a and 14b. Eachfold of the spine 16 merges along a continuous crease 25 with the inneredge of one of the bottom panels 14a and 14b. The member 16 extends fromthe bottom 14 in a gable-like fold to an apex 23 which is disposed in aplane substantially level with the top margin of the rear wall 12, asshown best in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Referring to FIGURE 4a, the six segments of the gabled spine 16 aresymmetrically arranged about an imaginary line extending between themedial segments 16c and 16d. More specifically, the following segmentsare related in form and function; the end segments 16a and 16f; theintermediate segments 16b and 16e; and the medial segments 16c and 16d.For this reason, only one of each type of segment will be described morefully.

The end segment, as may be seen in FIGURE 4a, is cut from the blank tohave substantially straight edges 24 and 26 which terminate respectivelyin notch-like shoulders 27 and 28 disposed in an overhangingrelationship at right angles with respect to the edges 24 and 26.Parallel to the edges 24 and 26 are the straight edges 31 and 32 whichterminate respectively in overhanging latch-like projections orshoulders 33 and 34. The projections 33 and 34 describe with respect tothe associated edges 31 and 32 an acute angle. It will be appreciatedthat when the carton 10 is erected the edges 24, 26, 31 and 32 extendupwardly from the bottom panels 14a and 14b in a convergingrelationship.

The medial segment 16c and its counterpart 160., is provided withstraight edges 36 and 37 disposed perpendicular to the crease 25 andterminating in the latchlike shoulder protrusions 38 and 39respectively. The arrangement of the edges 36 and 37 and shoulders 38and 39 is similar to that of the edges 31 and 32 and associatedshoulders 33 and 34 of the end segments 16a.

The medial segment 16c opposite from the edge 36 is provided with adiverging edge 41 inclined with respect to the crease 25 and terminatesin a notch-like shoulder 42, the shoulder 42 being aligned with theshoulder 27 of the end segment 16a.

The intermediate segment 16b is disposed between the end segments 16aand the medial segment 16c. Opposite from the edges of 31, 32, 36 and 37the respective confronting side edges of the intermediate section 16bare straight for a distance and perpendicular to the crease 25. Oppositefrom the shoulders 33, 34, 38 and 39 the side edges are cut inwardly toprovide clearance for the shoulders.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be seen thatthere are joined between the securing strip 22 and front wall 13 thecrossamembers 17-19, each of which is provided with curved side edgeswhich in the erected condition of the carton 10' supply to the rear 12and front 13 walls a slight outward bow as clearly appears in FIGURES1-3. The medial partition 17 is formed from two flaps hinged at an apexto fold downwardly, each presenting to the bottom panels 14a and 14b alower edge shaped like a wide V. The V-like lower edges of the medialpartition is somewhat like the lower edges of the end walls 18 andserves to fix the angular disposition of the bottom panels in theerected condition of the carton 10.

Each end wall 18 includes an upper marginal connector strip 18aextending between the securing strip 22 and the front wall 13 and apanel foldable downwardly at a right angle to the strip 18a.

Each cross-partition 19 is attached by a connector 21 to the securingstrip 22 and by a like connector 21 to the front wall 13. A tab 46 iscentrally arranged along the top edge of the cross-partition 19 andextends upwardly therefrom, terminating in spaced apart abutments 47having a substantially straight land 48 disposed therebetween, bestshown in FIGURE 6. The bottom edge of the cross-partition 19 is straightand is disposed above the bottom panels 14a and 14b to provide a channelbetween compartments so that fluid from a broken egg may flow from onecompartment to another. Upon encountering an end Wall 18 or the medialpartition 17, however, additional endwise flow is halted.

When erected, the outer shoulders 27 and 28 of the 7 end segment 16africtionally interlock with the horizontally disposed connector strip18a and the end wall 18 is held vertically against the straight edges 24and 26. The spacing of the shoulders 27 and 28 from the creaseconnection 25 of the spine 16 is such that the bottom panels 14a and 14bare urged into snug engagement with the V-shaped free lower edges of theend panel 18 and are then disposed in a negative dihedral relationshipto each other.

The inner shoulders 33 and 34 of the end segment 16a interlock with thetab 46 of the adjacent cross-partition 19, the shoulders 33 and 34 beingrestrained laterally by the abutments 47. Similarly, the shoulders 38and 39 of the medial segment 16c interlock with the associated tab 46 ofthe adjacent cross-partition 19, the shoulders 38 and 39 beingrestrained by the abutments 47 from outward movement.

The cross-partitions 19 are maintained in a substantially upstanding orvertical attitude by reason of the straight edges 33, 34, 36 and 37underlying the associated shoulders. The adjacent confronting straightedges of the intermediate partition 16b serve to hold the crosspartition19 in locking relation to the shoulders. This arrangement also serves tostiffen the cross-partition 19 thereby to prevent buckling. When theaforementioned parts are arranged as described the bottom panels 14a and14b define a negative dihedral relationship with respect to each other.

The shoulder 42 of the medial segment 16c engages frictionally the topedge portion of the medial partition 17.

The carton as described above may be provided with a cover having aplurality of opennigs permitting a view of the contents within theseveral cells or compartments, as shown in FIGURES 1-6. On the otherhand, a carton may be formed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention which includes a cover of imperforate character suchas that shown in FIGURE 7 wherein there appears a carton designatedgenerally embodying a second form of the invention. It will beunderstood that the carton 110 in the cellular or compartmented portionthereof may include each of the features previously described and may beassembled from a blank similar, except for the cover portion, to thatshown in FIGURES 4 and 4a. One feature of the carton 110 is that thecover 111 thereof provides a field for receiving a substantial expanseof advertising material serving to identify the source and features ofthe contents. Where it is felt desirable to permit a customer to viewthe contents of a carton in the closed condition thereof a carton may beequipped with a cover such as that shown in FIGURES 16.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 4 and 5-, it will be seen that the cover 11is hinged along a score line 61 to the rear wall 12 and includes alocking flap 62 foldable about a score line 63 to present the free edgeof the flap 62 equipped with the hook portion 64 to the gusset shapedconnectors 21 along the front wall 13 to interlock therewith when thecover 11 is closed, as shown in FIGURE 1.

A central panel 66 having a large diamond shaped opening 67 extendsbetween the hinged connection 61 and locking flap 62 and is so arrangedthat when the cover is closed the opening 67 provides a view to the fourcells or compartments adjacent to the medial partition 17.

A flap is foldable inwardly from each lateral edge of the panel 66. Therectangularly shaped flaps 68 and the panel 66 are so arranged that whenthe cover 11 is closed, the flaps 68 are disposed outwardly of thecross-partitions 19 next adjacent to the medial partition 17 whereby theflaps 68 serve as an extension of the cross-partitions, thus, arrangingthe four cells or compartments as a subcontainer within the carton 10.

An end flap 69 is arranged at each end ofv the cover 11, the end flap 69being folded inwardly from an end strip 71 which extends from the hinge61 to the locking flap 62. When the cover 11 is closed the end flap 69presents its lower edge to the connector strip 18a to form acontinuation of the end wall 18, thus lending a more solid appearance tothe carton 10.

A retaining member 72 is provided on the cover 11 intermediate eachpanel flap 68 and end flap 69, the retaining member 72 comprising a pairof inwardlydirected flaps or folds 72a and 72b folded about a hinge 73extending between two triangular shaped gusset members 74, best shown inFIGURE 4. The inner or free edge of the flaps 72a and 72b may beprovided with means for engaging the surface of the contents of thecarton 10,

such as eggs or the like objects. Such means may take the form of afan-like array of tabs 76 defined by radially oriented perforationsextending from the free edge of the respective folds 72a and 72b, bestshown in FIGURE 4a. Alternatively, the contents engaging means may takethe form of an arcuate edge or recess 77, as shown in the left portionof FIGURE 1.

When the cover 11 is in the closed position, the retaining member 72extends between the V-shaped notch defined by the upper confronting edgeportions of the intermediate segment 162 and end segment 16 and theirrespective counterparts, end segment 16a and intermediate segment 16b.

A bendable tab 78 is formed in each flap 72b and the end flap 69 so thatwhen the cover" is in a closed position clearance is afforded to theadjacent shoulders.

It will be observed in FIGURE 1 that the retaining member 72 is spacedfrom the end flap 69 and from the medial flap 68 a distance so that thefour contiguous cells or compartments adjacent the member 72 are exposedto the viewer when the cover 11 is in the closed position. Thus, each ofthe cells or compartments of the carton 19 may be viewed from theexterior when the cover 11 is in a lower or closed position.

The carton 10, or the carton 110 as the case may be, is assembled from ablank, shown in FIGURES 4 and 4a. In the case of the carton 110 thecover portion is imperforate. Considered as a blank, the cartoncomprises a double thickness of fiberboard material being that a firstportion of the blank containing the panels 14a and the cross members17-19 are folded upon a second portion of the blank comprising thesegmented spine 16 and rear bottom panel 14b. The first portion issecured to the interlocking relationship with the cross members 17-19and locked therein in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. This operation maybe performed by high speed machinery of the kind shown and described,for example, in Patent No. 3,200,718, issued Aug. 17, 1965, for a CartonForming Machine.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover inthe appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An egg carton comprising a single sheet of fi-berboard materialerectable to have spaced apart front and rear walls, first and secondimperforate bottom panels merging respectively with said front and rearwalls along fr-ont'and rear carton supporting corners, a gabledsegmented spine projecting upwardly from each bottom panel along acontinuous crease, a plurality of spaced apart cross-partitionsextending between said front and rear walls and passing between adjacentsegments of said gabled spine to define a plurality of egg receivingcompartments, ones of said cross-partitions being each equipped on theupper edge thereof with a laterally spaced pair of abutments, ones ofsaid gabled segments each presenting to the adjacent cross-partition apair of straight edges disposed in a plane perpendicular to said frontand rear walls for stiffening said partitions from lateral buckling andfor maintaining the same in an upstanding attitude, said ones of saidsegments being equipped with shoulders overhanging said straight edgesand latchingly engaging said upper edge of the adjacent cross-partitionmediate said abutments.

2. The egg'carton of claim 1 wherein said shoulders and said upper edgemediate set abutments are spaced from said crease a distance so that inthe erected condition of said carton said crease is disposed above saidsupporting corners, said bottom panels being then disposed in a negativedihedral relationship.

3. The egg carton of claim 1 wherein said carton at each end is providedwith an imperforate end wall connected to and shaped to fit snuglyagainst said front and rear walls, the lower edge of said end wallpresenting to second portion at the securing strip 22, shown in FIG- 7URE 5.

The first stage in erecting the carton 10 is to spread the overlyingfirst and second portions to form an open boxlike configuration as shownin FIGURE 5. Thereafter, the segmented spine 16 and the cross members17-19 are rotated into position in the direction of the arrows shown inFIGURE 6. Thereafter, the spines are moved up into said bottom panels aconcave obtuse profile, the segment of said spine adjacent said end wallpresenting thereto a pair of straight edges disposed in a planeperpendicular to said front and rear walls, said segment being equippedwith shoulders overhanging said straight edges and frictionally engagingthe upper portion of said end wall serving to maintain said wall againstsaid straight edges in a substantially upstanding attitude and servingto maintain said bottom panels in a snug relationship with said loweredge.

4. The egg carton of claim 1 wherein said carton is provided with acover formed to permit in the closed position thereof a view of thecontents, said cover being joined in a hinge connection to the uppermargin of said rear wall and including a closure flap alignable in saidclosed position with said front wall, at least one retaining memberextending between said hinged connection and said closure flap andarranged to afford a view into a contiguous group of egg receivingcompartments, said retaining member being folded downwardly from theplane of said cover to protrude into said group of egg receivingcompartments, the lower portions of said member presenting to thecontents of said compartments retaining means positioned to occluderemoval of such contents.

5. The egg carton of claim 4 wherein said cover includes, spaced fromsaid retaining member, a panel overlying a group of egg receivingcompartments, said panel being provided with a window affording a viewinto such compartments.

6. An egg carton erectable from a blank of fiberboard material to haveintegral rear, bottom and front panels and being closed by end panelsintegrally joined to said front and rear panels, said carton beingequipped with internal partitions defining a multiplicity of eggreceiving compartments, a cover formed to permit in the closed positionthereof a view of the contents of said compartments, said cover beinghingeably joined to the upper margin of said rear panel and including aclosure flap alignable in saidclosed position with said front panel, acentral panel on said cover overlying in said closed condition acontiguous group of said egg receiving compartments, said panel having awindow therein affording a view into said group of compartments, atleast one retaining member on said cover spaced from said central panela distance permitting a view into another contiguous group ofcompartments, said retaining member projecting downwardly from the planeof said cover to protrude into said last mentioned group ofcompartments, the lower marginal portions of said member presenting tothe contents of said compartments retaining means positioned partiallyto occlude removal of such contents.

7. Egg carton set forth in claim 6 wherein said re taining member ofsaid cover is hingeably joined to said upper margin of said rear paneland extends perpendicular to and connects with said closure flap, saidmember being formed from a pair of retainer flaps folded downwardly fromthe plane of said cover, the lower margin of each retainer flap beingslit on opposite sides of said spine to define a fan-like array of tabsyieldably conformable to the surface of an egg.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,650 10/1935 Burger 229-292,321,209 6/1943 Holwick 229--29 2,750,099 6/1956 Bemiss 22928 3,244,3504/1966 Randles 22928 3,251,531 5/1966 Hook 229-28 3,255,947 6/1966Bixler et al. 22928 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner.

1. AN EGG CARTON COMPRISING A SINGLE SHEET OF FIBERBOARD MATERIALERECTABLE TO HAVE SPACED APART FRONT AND REAR WALLS, FIRST AND SECONDIMPERFORATE BOTTOM PANELS MERGING RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID FRONT AND REARWALLS ALONG FRONT AND REAR CARTON SUPPORTING CORNERS, A GABLED SEGMENTEDSPINE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM EACH BOTTOM PANEL ALONG A CONTINUOUSCREASE, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART CROSS-PARTITIONS EXTENDING BETWEENSAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS AND PASSING BETWEEN ADJACENT SEGMENTS OF SAIDGABLED SPINE TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF EGG RECEIVING COMPARTMENTS, ONESOF SAID CROSS-PARTITIONS BEING EACH EQUIPPED ON THE UPPER EDGE THEREOFWITH A LATERALLY SPACED PAIR OF ABUTMENTS, ONES OF SAID GABLED SEGMENTSEACH PRESENTING TO THE ADJACENT CROSS-PARTITION A PAIR OF STRAIGHT EDGESDISPOSED IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS FORSTIFFENING SAID PARTITIONS FROM LATERAL BUCKLING AND FOR MAINTAINING THESAME IN AN UPSTANDING ATTITUDE, SAID ONES OF SAID SEGMENTS BEINGEQUIPPED WITH SHOULDERS OVERHANGING SAID STRAIGHT EDGES AND LATCHINGLYENGAGING SAID UPPER EDGE OF THE ADJACENT CROSS-PARTITION MEDIATE SAIDABUTMENTS.